You only need a pair of scissors to help our troops

Friday

Feb 15, 2013 at 11:26 AM

Once a week, the newspapers are filled with all types of mailers and coupons. Most of us, or at least the shoppers among us, pore over those fliers and by Monday morning, off the remainder go to recycling. What if you could take all those coupons you have no use for and pass them on to families who really would benefit from them?

Once a week, the newspapers are filled with all types of mailers and coupons. Most of us, or at least the shoppers among us, pore over those fliers and by Monday morning, off the remainder go to recycling. What if you could take all those coupons you have no use for and pass them on to families who really would benefit from them?

Who could that be? The many families that are overseas and serve our country would be thrilled to benefit from those leftovers. Although there are several websites available, the one I checked out was the Support Our Troops Troopons program.

Until one of my EMS partners mentioned that she has clipped and sent coupons to many families stationed abroad over the past years, the thought that I could help these folks serving our country was not with coupons.

The program, as it says, "enhances the well-being of overseas and domestic military families by sending them food, non-food, baby and pet manufacturer coupons to make their hard-earned dollars go father."

How does a military family get the coupons? Those of us who participate can mail them to one of the following addresses: Send active (at least three months remaining) to Attn: ACTIVE Troopons, Support Our Troops, P.O. Box 10, Wier, TX 78674-0010.

Or send expired (no more than 60 days expired/less than three months remaining) to Attn: EXPIRED Troopons, Support Our Troops, P.O. Box 10, Wier, TX 78674-0010.

The individuals at SupportOurTroops.Org administer the routing from Texas to base stores worldwide and to bases across the United States following the constantly changing needs related to category and quantity per location.

The types of coupons they accept include manufacturers for individual products, e.g., soup, pasta or toothpaste, must be clipped out individually, packaged in sandwich or quart-size plastic bags and separated into food, nonfood, baby and pet baggies. Unsorted items must simply be recycled because of a lack of manpower to help on military bases.

What cannot be accepted are coupons for individual stores — no assistance vouchers, no food stamps or similar and no restaurant coupons. A base commander advised the group about what he has noticed is most needed. For most military families, food coupons are first on the list, baby supplies second and common household goods third. Some commissaries no longer distribute Internet coupons because of online forgeries.

There is no minimum donation size and although you will not get a tax deduction for participating, you will feel good and do your part from home to help those serving our country. This is a program that will really help others without your having to actually leave your home. It's something small, but with a big impact.